Special Olympics Athletes to Share ‘Best Day Ever’ on Kaiser Permanente’s Rose Parade Float

Kaiser Permanente announced that Special Olympics Southern California athletes will participate as both riders and walkers in their 2025 Rose Parade float entry.

The healthcare organization’s 19th float entry, titled “More Healthy Days for More Healthy Years,” will feature four Special Olympics athletes walking alongside the 55-foot-long display on New Year’s Day.

“The walkers are four Special Olympics Southern California athletes,” said Eugene Cho, Senior Vice President and Area Manager of Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center. “I can’t think of a better group of people to really embody more healthy days for more healthy years.”

The float, measuring 28 feet tall and 18 feet wide, incorporates both traditional and modern healthcare elements, including LED screens displaying health metrics and digital elements like smartwatch and smartphone representations.

Decorated with over 50,000 flowers, the award-winning healthcare provider’s float highlights their extensive partnership with Special Olympics Southern California, where they have provided medical care to more than 2,000 athletes.

“Part of our mission is to improve the health of the communities that we serve. We have been doing this for almost 80 years,” Cho said, emphasizing Kaiser’s role as “lifelong partners” with members and patients.

The float’s design features an expanding and contracting sun on one end and a moon on the other, symbolizing a full day of healthy activities and wellness.

“This year’s theme for the 2025 Tournament of Roses parade is ‘Best Day Ever.’ And so when you think about that theme, ‘Best Day Ever,’ it celebrates life’s best moments. And what is someone’s ‘Best Day Ever’ without health and wellness?” Cho said.

The healthcare provider, which serves 12.5 million members across eight states and the District of Columbia, marks its 90th year in the Rose Parade, focusing on preventative care and community support.

Phoenix Decorating Company will serve as the float builder, with hundreds of Kaiser staff and physicians expected to volunteer in its construction.